HOW INSIST IN MISTAKE-MORE TROOPS TO AFGHAN?

Republicans urge President Obama to send more troops to Afghanistan


BY Kenneth R. Bazinet and Richard Sisk

DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU



Wednesday, October 7th 2009, 4:00 AM
Ngan/GettySenate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speak to reporters. Take our PollTroop levels in Afghanistan

Should Obama send more troops to Afghanistan?
Yes, more troops are needed to combat violence.

No, Afghan troops should be used, but no more Americans should be sent.

I'm not sure.
Related NewsArticlesSarah Palin urges troop buildup in AfghanistanDeadly assaults lead to squabbles on Afghan policySuicide bomber kills 5 at UN food agency HQ in Pakistan 8 American troops killed in 'complex attack' on Afghanistan outpostGeneral pitched Obama for more troops in AfghanistanGeneral David Petraeus, top commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, treated for prostate cancer WASHINGTON - Republican leaders urged President Obama to send 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan immediately Tuesday, while Democrats said they'll back whatever decision Obama makes.

The Taliban also chimed in and dared the U.S. to meet the surge request of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. "You should know that we have a lot of patience and we are prepared for a long fight," the Taliban said in e-mails to Western reporters.

Obama let a bipartisan group of more than 30 congressional leaders vent for more than 90 minutes at the White House as he sought to devise a new strategy on the way forward in Afghanistan. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) emerged with a puzzling statement. He said members of both parties told Obama, "Whatever decision you make, we'll support." But Republicans said they backed McChrystal.


"Gen. McChrystal's analysis is not only correct, but should be employed as soon as possible," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). "Time is not on our side."


The Afghanistan crisis has caused a rift between the uniformed military and Obama's civilian national security team. White House officials have been incensed at McChrystal for taking his case public and disputing Vice President Biden's argument for a scaled-back effort.



Army Gen. David Petraeus, author of the Iraq surge and McChrystal's commander, gave him qualified support. The Afghan effort "requires sustained, substantive commitment," Petraeus said, but "I'm not gonna get into more or less" on the number of troops.



rsisk@nydailynews.com







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